Bird of prey crimes fall by a quarter in Scotland
Although the figures are “good news”, Scotland’s environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham said more need to be done.
Scotland’s environment secretary has welcomed new crime maps showing a 26 per cent fall in recorded bird of prey crimes in 2016, but said there is still “much work to be done”.
There were 14 confirmed bird of prey crimes in Scotland last year, compared to 19 the previous year, according to maps produced by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland).
Species killed illegally in 2016 include buzzards and a goshawk, while golden eagles and osprey were the victims of disturbance cases. All in all there were four recorded poisonings, four shootings, three disturbances and three trappings or attempted trappings.
Confirmed poisonings fell to four in number last year, down from six in 2015.
Although the figures are “good news”, Scotland’s environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham said more need to be done. She has ordered a review of data from satellite tagged birds to shed light on a number of disappearances.
“While I welcome these figures today, my message remains clear,” she added in a statement. “The illegal persecution of Scotland’s magnificent birds of prey must end.”
Ms Cunningham also confirmed another year’s funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, based in Stirling, which will allow it to continue its work protecting wildlife, including birds of prey.
View the crime maps here: www.gov.scot
